A new welding and fabrication business has set up shop in Ballymena, bringing 40 new jobs to the area.

Duneane Engineering decided to establish a base in Pennybridge Industrial Estate, selecting Ballymena due to its long-held reputation for being a leader in the highly skilled manufacturing and engineering industries.

The firm currently offers a range of welding and fabricating services to companies throughout Ballymena and Mid and East Antrim, with aspirations to expand operations to the wider Northern Ireland market.

The firm has taken up residence in the Victoria Works building, once home to Rory Woolf of the Woolf Engineering and Slemish brands. The company intends to resurrect the Slemish brand once again and build on Woolf Engineering's past fabrication, welding and precision engineering expertise.

As well as benefitting from the location's access to skills and expertise, the company is also benefiting from support through the Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force, as well as Productivity and Skills sub-groups and Skills Academies, and the Council's Business Escalator Programme. This support will help the firm expand and recruit 35 to 40 workers in early 2022.

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Welcoming Duneane Engineering to Ballymena, Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor William McCaughey said: "I am delighted that Duneane Engineering have chosen to invest in Ballymena, and I would like to extend the company a very warm welcome to the borough.

"Mid and East Antrim is renowned for being a leader in the manufacturing and engineering sector, and for being home to a highly skilled workforce, so the decision by Duneane Engineering to locate in Ballymena is a positive acknowledgement of what the area has to offer for future investment and growth.

"The announcement of up to 40 new jobs is great news for the local economy, and I look forward to following the future success of Duneane Engineering in our borough."

Caitriona Gribben, Director of Duneane Engineering, added: "After reviewing a number of locations, we had no hesitation in expanding our presence and establishing Duneane Engineering in Ballymena, the home of Woolf Engineering.

"We have close ties with Rory and hope in the future to use the Slemish brand once again. It has proven to be an attractive location as we have the support of the Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force and we are confident this region has the availability of talent that we need to grow and develop our new business."